By James Stevens
There were winners over jumps and on the Flat for Welsh trainers and jockeys. The Racing Post’s James Stevens has more on the week…
The St Leger is Britain’s oldest Classic and there was Welsh success at the meeting with Harmonia winning for Monmouthshire-based David Evans.
The two-year-old had made two successful visits north ahead of his trip to Doncaster on Wednesday and he produced a career-best under Derby-winning jockey Richard Kingscote to strike by half a length on Thursday.
Evans, best known for training dual Royal Ascot-winning sprinter Rohaan, is enjoying a good season with 33 winners. Quite amazingly, a £1 bet on all of his runners would return a profit of +£85.79.
Jockey in fine form
There was also victory at the Leger meeting for adopted Welsh jockey Danny Muscutt at the meeting. He obliged aboard the well-supported favourite Kildare Legend for James Ferguson in the 1m4f handicap.
The winner, who has been ridden by Muscutt on his last three starts, could well prove a force in big handicaps towards the end of the Flat season. He is entered in the prestigious Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket on October 11 which could be his next target.
Muscutt was in top form throughout the week. He enjoyed a fruitful trip to Newcastle on Tuesday, with both of his two rides winning, while the good run continued at Lingfield the following day.
He made it three successive wins when winning aboard Lazieelunch in the 1m handicap while later in the day doubled up again aboard 3-1 favourite Pure Of Heart in the 1m4f handicap.
He was back again to Lingfield on Saturday to ride Wannabe Brave in the 2m handicap.
Brilliant Bowens
The jumps season is not far away and the Welsh contingent continued to fly the flag across the few meetings.
On Monday, Peter and Michael Bowen struck in a bumper at Newton Abbot before three of the seven winners at Worcester were ridden by Welsh jockeys.
Champion-chasing Sean Bowen maintained his form with a solid display aboard Roccovango, who caused a bit of a surprise to win at 6-1 against a heavy odds-on favourite.
He came within a short head of doubling his tally but, in an all-Welsh affair, he was narrowly held off by the Jack Tudor-ridden Oceanline.
Sean’s brother James is also enjoying a fine start to the season and won aboard King Roly.
